March Rap Jumpstart
March has seen many rappers drop both short and long projects. Khaligraph Jones, a household name in Kenyan hip hop,and perhaps a face for East Africa on the continent,dropped a long-awaited sophomore album. Many have hailed it as a well balanced, well planned project, and a testament to the growth of the Kayole born OG. G-CHESS, a rapper operating in Rongai,a neighborhood famous for producing great musical talent, has put out a mixtape with guest verses from some of the popular rappers. Ish Kevin starts his year on a confrontational note, while Fik Fameica raps about love and Rosa Ree about racist capitalist systems and the need to break them.We've sampled tracks from newer names too and highlighted those rappers that have stepped away from their comfort zones. Bon appetit!
Hiroshima - Khaligraph Jones featuring DAX
Khaligraph's long awaited sophomore album Invisible Currency finally dropped this month. This song has been spoken about the most, with the guest featured on being a well known rapper worldwide. Like most joints on the album, this one was produced by Vinc on the Beat, and is an energetic type of beat that serves the two artists on it. Khaligraph Jones flexes his rapping prowess, rhyming words so fast with a dexterity that still continues to impress his die hard fans. He speaks about his struggles as an artist and blames gate keeping as a barrier that prevents him from going as far as he feels he needs to. He calls out African rappers for being complacent lately and not going the extra mile to push African hip hop internationally. He name drops Sarkodie from Ghana and Nasty C from South Africa, singling them out as the only emcees who are working to take the continental throne. DAX co-signs him, praising his musical journey and achievements, and hails him (Khaligraph) as a legendary African rapper. The machine gun rapping is a forte for both rappers and the way they diversify their cadences is not only exciting but leaves the listener craving to hear the song over and over again.
Kanzunzu - Fik Fameica
Ugandan rapper, Fik Fameica, has captured the masses with his latest. A serial hit maker since the pandemic started, East African ears have come to expect more and more from him, and he is taking the pressure well. A Ugandan ragga inspiration is evident in this new tune and he has wowed many by not going for an obvious hip hop beat. He still raps however, using a melodic flow to talk about his feelings for a woman so admired.The production of the audio has employed the use of various instruments such as electric guitars and flutes that are not always used in rap. The beat also hosts subtle but enjoyable drumming patterns and fans as well as music critics have praised the artist exceedingly. The energy and feeling of the song translates to non-Luganda speakers in a way that is so powerful and precise,it leaves no doubt as to the message from the poet.
Freestyle Session 4 - Young Lunya
Ten years after discovering his talent as an MC while in primary school, Young Lunya has not looked back. He starts the fourth installment of his famous freestyle sessions with a sample of himself at a very young age spitting bars. When the intro is done, the lyricist immediately gets to business, telling the listener about his journey in rap so far. He is cocky and braggadocious, dropping a few names involved in the Bongo rap scene daring them to rap challenges if they should so wish. He uses a bunch of puns to send subliminal shots to others as well and leaves the work of interpretation of who the fire is meant for to his audience. Not all name drops are confrontational however. He gives flowers to a living legend of Tanzanian rap, Fid Q, praising his witty lyricsm, and says that he was inspired by that music when he was younger. The young rapper also reiterates his mission to make music for the streets that he came from, and to uplift the youth of his hometown. The visuals show a very energetic MC vibing on the streets of his hometown surrounded by fans who adore him.
Gin Ama Whiskey - Breeder LW featuring Mejja
After claiming the prize for the best album at the last edition of the UnKut Hip Hop Awards, Breeder LW has noticeably paced himself this year. However he dropped a March gift for his fans.He takes to a lingala inspired gengetone beat, produced by Vinc on the Beat, to compose a party song with a catchy hook and memorable lines. Booze anthems are quite popular in Kenya, and the fact that he features Mejja, makes the song resonate more with revelers. The video is shot outdoors,in a small concert setting, with lots of pretty ladies and fashionable gentlemen dancing with youthful grace. The director did a pleasant job in using close ups to capture intimate moments between various partners, telling a story of lovers who turned up to party. In this way, the song is not just a party anthem but a love song of sorts. Mejja's verse is characteristically memorable with funny one liners that prompt repetition as well some with bawdy double meanings that could just get some people in the mood.
Blue Print - Rosa Ree
Although she keeps teasing a project drop, the goddess is still releasing singles. Her latest single comes just about a month and a half after her last and it reveals a new side to her we have not prominently seen before. Rosa Ree has of late taken to addressing specific themes in her songs. These themes are deep and introspective, and are quite a departure from an earlier version of her that was all about dropping hard bars and being braggadocious. On Blue Print, she speaks about the modern neo-liberal capitalist system. She compares it to slavery and colonialism but also states that it is the child of the same racially motivated systems. She calls on black people living in Africa to stand up to these systems and try to go back to their ancient values that aren't necessarily muddied by capitalist ideals. Another way in which Rosa Ree has evolved in her music is by the type of videos she does. The visuals for this number, just like those for the songs: Satan and I'm Not Sorry, are explicit- dark and bloody,and show human suffering. A symbolism from the video that stands out is the use of Africans with lighter complexions to play the characters of slave traders and handlers. This is perhaps a reference to colorism, or the way .in which classism has taken on the same narratives and ways of thinking that were used by colonialists.
Ambitions - Phinoshey Elber featuring 7th Son & An!Les
Alternative rapper Phinoshey has been turning heads for a while, and the right heads dare we say. He had a marvelous 2021, getting to open for Octopizzo during the FUEGO album launch as well as a number of other notable events. The 2021 UnKut Hip Hop Awards Alternative rap artist of the year nominee took a more mainstream approach with this song however, making a joint with an arrangement similar to most. An!Les provides a sultry hook and Phinoshey matches the energy on his verse, rhyming sweetly,at a pace faster than his fans are used to. He submits, that all dreams are valid and should be pursued until attainment. 7th Son,on the other hand slows his pace for this beat, but more or less sounds like one would expect him to. The production prowess of Phinoshey shines through, with a guitar main and subtle drums that give a laid back but popish rhythm.
My Year (2022) - Ish Kevin
Arguably the hottest rapper on the Rwanda scene currently, Ish Kevin certainly carries himself like it. Dropping just his first song of the year, the drill-associated rapper ,opted for a different genre this time. He uses a dancehall- afro swing hybrid beat to announce his intentions for this calendar year. He recounts his most recent wins, attributing them to his skill set and challenges other rappers to try and match him. He interchangeably uses Kinyarwanda and English effortlessly, adding to the sweetness of the cadence and flow. The video shows a Jamaican style party, with revelers dancing happily,adorned in red, yellow and green colored fits. The lighting is cleverly controlled to highlight or conceal certain faces ,bodies and movements,in contrast with each other so as to bring to life a plot told through the dancing.
8 O'clock- 8 Street Gang.
The Kenyan drill scene is getting busier by the day with more and more rappers dropping hits. The scene is showing some similarities to gengetone in its early stages. The making of music in groups and the strong affiliation with neighborhoods were primary characteristics of gengetone,as it is with the drill that is coming out of Nairobi currently. The 8 Street Gang are proud rappers from Kibera, and they have been putting out singles consistently for a minute now. 8 O'clock is written to a mid tempo yet energetic beat, a type of beat that is preferred even by more established names like Buruklyn Boyz, Big Yasa and Natty. The group drop some neat bars, using a little exaggeration to spice up their lyrics. They touch on a variety of themes such as brotherhood, hustling to get their bags and learning to live without fear. They have amazing flows and a musicality to them that stands out.
Jua Imewaka - G-CHESS featuring Katapilla
Rongai based rapper G-CHESS announced very early in the year that he would release a project. This March, he finally did it. This song stands out from the rest because of its old skool vibe. Unlike most songs on the album,this one does not use a trap-like beat,and could even be called minimalist for its simplicity. It features the Odi Bets Rap Challenge winner, Katapilla who has registered so many wins in the last year. The duo use the 'JuaImewaka' phrase - the sun is hot, to refer to the suffering and hurdles people face while hustling. The idea that links a hot sun to grinding is drawn from a Swahili proverb that promises a better meal for those that worked hard in the hot daytime sunshine. They muse over how different situations are harder than they should be,if one happens to be broke. The rappers are street favorites and they do not disappoint on the bars.
